Switch-point protector



June 11, 1929. v E; .1 PACKER 1,716,503

SWITCH POINT PROTECTOR Original Fil ed Sept. 22, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR flienfiaygzcifer BY I ATORNEY June 11, 1929. PACKER 1.716.503

SWITCH POINT PnoTEcTbR Original Filed Sept. 22, L926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 11, 1929.

UN! 51 era EBEN RAY PACKER, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO Q & C COMPANY,

on NEW YORK, n. Y., A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

SWITCH-POINT PROTECTOR.

Application filed September 22, 1926, Seria1 No. 136,941. Renewed November 2,1928. I

The present invention relates to improvements in switch point protecting devices for railway switches or turnouts and consists of features of construction and arrangement designed to produce an improved device adapted to be eflicientin eliminating or reducing wear and damage to switch points and to reduce danger of derailments in switching. A particular Ob ect of the present improvements is to produce a simple structure that may be economically produced and which is designed to operate by engagement with the outer or nonflange side of the car wheel so as to be positioned remote from the wheel flangeway and adapted for installation in advance of the switch point so as to be noninterfering with the switch structure.

Important features of my improved device embody in an integral structure designed to be supported upon a single tiean improved arrangement of the deflect ng flange adapted to effect an inward deflecting movement of the car wheel, in the direction of switching, throughout substantially the full length of the protectormember and to further provide for the required deflecting of the car wheel when passing in the opposite direction for running through. Flo this end the deflecting flange is formed with its inwardly directed wheel engaging surface tapered or angularly disposed for substantially its entire length in a single plane thereby to provide an elongated deflecting surface at a relatively small angle to the tangent adapted for more radual shifting of deflection of the car heelduring the switching operation for the purpose of clearing the extreme end of the switch point. Associated with this improved arrangement of the switching deflecting surface the flange is further of a form to provide for the proper running through of the wheel in the opposite direction and to this end is formed at end portion with its inner surface inclined and of progressively lessened depth of inclination toward the center of the device whereby upon en agement there with of the wheel the latter will be deflected inwardly for clearing the protector member in its passing.

The described and other features and advantages of my present improvements will be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like refthrust of the car wheel.

erence characters are employed to designate the corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a partial plan view of a switch structure having the device of the present invention incorporated therewith. v

Fig. 2 is a view in end elevation showing the switch point protector of my improved design.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof. 7

Fig. 4 is a view thereof in side elevation.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a suitably modified form adapted to be supported upon two ties. I

In the preferred embodiment of the features of my invention as here illustrated, the switch point protector is shown formed as an integral casting composed-of a head portion 1, a vertical web portion 2 and a base portion 3 and with the head and base portions connected byinclined transverse ribs 44.- for purposes of lateral reinforcement and to resist tilting action. a

The head portion 1, as shown, is formed with a vertical inwardly directed surface. to engagethe side of the rail head and at its lower inner marginal portion with an inwardly extended longitudinal flange or shoulder 6 positioned to engage with the underside or'fishing surface of the rail head 7 of track rail 8. The shoulder 6 accordingly functions to resist tilting of the protector memberunder the influence of the outward Upon its outer side portion the headis formed with an up-o wardly and longitudinally extended deflecting flange 10 positioned to extend above the horizontal plane of the top of the rail to be engaged by the outer or non-flange side of the car wheel for thepurpose of deflecting the wheel in the direction of switching.

In accordance with the present invention,

the deflecting flange 10 is ofan improved form and arrangement having its inwardly directed wheel engaging surface 11 angularly disposed to provide a continuous lateral acting deflecting surface for substan tially the full length of the protector member, said angular surface being arranged to be effective for laterally shifting the car wheel in the direction of switching and in the switching movement. As will be understood, the inward. shifting of the wheel from the action of the deflecting flange is for a distance sufiicient to insure against the wheel having end on engagement with the switch point and to a degree sufficient to relieve the extreme end portion of the switch point of excessive or damaging pressures. The uni-directional angular deflecting surface of substantially the full length of the device allows of materially reducing the length of the protector with resulting economy while providing a deflecting surface havinga relatively small angle adapted for effecting the desirable more gradual lateral shifting of the Wheel.

To allow of the reverse passage of the car Wheels in the non-switching direction the de fleeting flange is formed at its end portion spaced closest to the track rail with an up ward and outward inclination as indicated at 12operative upon being engaged by the car wheel to effect the inward movement of the latter thereby to avoid endwise engagement with the deflecting flange and-to allow passage thereby. There is accordingly provided a deflecting flange having an elongated angularly disposed deflecting surface operative inthe switching direction and an inclined vertically acting surface operative to accomplish the shifting of the wheel upon engagement when running in the opposite direction.

The latter surface as shown is of progressively decreasing angularity toward the center of the device to merge into the vertical wall or surface 12.

The substantially full length deflecting surface of my improved design, as illustrated, allows of positioning the device in advance of the switch point while obtaining effective close relation of the innermost point of the deflecting flange with reference thereto whereby the shifting movement given to the wheel will substantially converge into the switching action of the switch point. This advance position allows of securing the device to the track rail without interference with the switch point and its accessories and in further accordance with my improved design the securing of the protector member is accomplished without bolting to the rail. To this end, the base portion 3 is formed with an inner tie plate extension 14 arranged to underlie the track rail and having a raised shoulder 15 at its inner end positioned to engage the inner side of the rail flange for opposing outward movement of the protector member. For offering additional security against lateral movement the base portion is provided with inner and outer spike apertures 1617 as shown for spiking to the tie. To supplement the spikes in securing the protector member against longitudinal movement, the base portion is formed at its ends with depending flanges or shoulders 19 for engagement with the sides of the ties.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an approved modified embodiment of the features of my invention in a design adapted to be secured to two adjacent ties and suitably elongated to give a more gradual deflecting action more suitably adapted for switching points of higher speeds. In this modified form the head portion is of similar but elongated form relative to the design as first disclosed and the base portion is formed at its ends with tie plate enlargements 2O formed at their inner end portions with rail flange engaging shoulders 21. The outer end portions of the tie plate enlargements are provided with central transversely extending ribs 22 connecting the plates with the head portion as shown. The base further includes an intermediate or connecting portion 24 bridging the ties and connecting ribs 26 are provided as indicated connecting the base and the head portion intermediate of the tie plate portions for reinforcing the structure. The tilt opposing shoulder 6 in this modified form is shown non-continuous as aseries of longitudinally disposed shoulder extensions of the head portion.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1'. A switch point protector adapted for use in combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated therewith and to be positioned for deflecting the car wheel in the direction of switching so as to clear the end of the switch point, comprising a head portion having a longitudinally extending deflecting flange, said flange being formed with an angularly disposed inner deflecting surface extending substantially the full length thereof and at its innermost end portion being formed with an upward and outward inclination adapted for deflecting a car wheel, substantially as described.

2. A switch point protector adapted for use in combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated V therewith and to be positioned for deflecting the car wheel in the direction'of switching so as to clear the end of the switch point, comprising .a head portion, a web portion and a base portion, said head portion being provided with a longitudinally extending deflecting flange having inwardly acting deflecting surfaces comprising an angularly disposed surface extending substantially the full length of the flange for deflecting the wheel in the switching movement and a relative short upwardly and outwardly inclined surface at the innermost end of the deflecting flange adapted to deflect the wheel inwardly when moving in the opposite or non-switching direction and means for securing the protector with relation to the track rail.

3. A switch point protector adapted for use in combination with a main rail and a movable switch point operatively associated therewith and to be positioned for deflecting the car wheel in the direction of switching so as to clear the end of the switch point comprising a head portion, a web portion and a base portion, said head portion being provided with a longitudinally extending deflecting flange and with inwardly extended shoulder to engage the rail head fishing surface, said deflecting flange having an angularly disposed inner deflecting surface extending substantially the full length thereof and at its innermost end portion being formed with an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting surface having a deflecting action in the opposite direction of wheel movement and said'base portion having a tie plate extension positioned to underlie the track rail and provided with a securing shoulder opposed to the inner side of the rail flange, substantially as described.

4. A switch point protector of the character described, comprising integrally formed head, web and base portions, said head portion having a longitudinally extending deflecting flange having an angularly disposed deflecting surface extending substantially the full length thereof and formed at one end with an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting surface, a tilt resisting shoulder on the head portion p0- sitioned to engage the under side of the rail head, said base portion being formed with a tie plate extension positioned to underlie the track rail and having a shoulder engaging the inner side of the track rail to oppose outward movement of the protector and with an outwardly extended plate portion and a reinforcing rib connecting the latter portion of the base with the web and head portions, substantially as described.

5. A switch point protector of the character described, comprising integrally formed head, web and base portions, said head portion having a longitudinally extending deflecting flange having an angularly disposed deflecting surface extending substantially the full length thereof and formed at one end with an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting surface, an inwardly extended shoulder on the head portion positioned to engage the underside of the rail head, said base portion being formed with a tie plate extension positioned to underlie the track rail and having a shoulder engaging the inner side of the track rail flange and with depending portions positioned to engage the tie to oppose longitudinal movement of the protector.

6. A switch point protector of the character described comprising a deflecting portion having an angularly disposed inwardly acting deflecting surface extending substantially the full length of the protector and an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflecting surface at one end thereof operative for deflecting the wheel in the direction of switching when moving in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

7. A switch point protector of the character described adapted to have bearing support upon a single tie, comprising a head, web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel and said base portion being formed with depending flanges positioned to engage the opposite side surfaces of the tie.

8. A switch point'protector of the character described adapted to have bearing support upon a single tie, comprising a head, web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel and said base portion having a tie plate exten sion underlying the main rail provided with depending flanges positioned to engage the opposite side surfaces of a tie.

9. A switch point protector of the character described adapted to have bearing sup port upon a single tie, comprising a head, web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel and with an inwardly extended shoulder engaging the rail head fishing surface and said base portion having a tie plate extension underlying the main rail and provided with depending flanges positioned to engage the opposite side surfaces of a tie and said tie plate extension at its inner portion being provided with a shoulder positioned to be engaged by the inner edge of the rail base.

10. A switch point protector of the character described adapted tohave bearing support upon a single tie, comprising a head,

web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel and with an inwardly extended shoulder to engage the rail head fishing surface.

11. A switch point protector of the charactcr described adapted to have bearing support upon a single tie, comprising a head, web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel andsaid base being formed with apertures for spiking to the tie. v

12. A switch point protector of the character described adapted to have bearing support upon a single tie, comprising a head,

web and base portion, said head portion being formed with a deflecting flange positioned to be engaged by the car wheel and said base portion having a tie plate extension underlying the main rail.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of July, A. D. 1926.

EBEN RAY PACKER, 

